Poll Question

FREEPORT, Maine — Independent former Gov. Angus King took an early lead and cruised to victory Tuesday in the race to become Maine’s next U.S. senator, eight months after Olympia Snowe shocked the political establishment by announcing she wouldn’t seek another term.

King had claimed 54 percent of the vote with 15 percent of precincts reporting. Republican Charlie Summers trailed with 30 percent while Democrat Cynthia Dill had the support of 13 percent of votes.

In his victory speech at a Freeport hotel at about 9 p.m., where he was greeted by bagpipes, King said that Maine voters sent a clear message that they want less division in politics.

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“They’re tired of the false choice that always seems to confront them,” he said. “As a guy said on this campaign, ‘I always wanted a chance to vote for none of the above. And you’re it.’”

King joked that former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove invigorated his campaign with new energy when his group Crossroads GPS started airing anti-King ads this fall.

“I spent a lot of time promoting Maine and Maine tourism,” said the former two-term governor, “and I’ve never said this, but I hope that man never comes to Maine.”

Summers conceded the race around 10:40 p.m. before family members and supporters at the Portland Regency Hotel.

“We have a very difficult situation that this country faces, and I think it’s critical that we line up behind our representatives,” Summers said. “Sen.-elect King certainly needs our support.”

Thanking his family, Summers alluded to his three previous unsuccessful runs to represent Maine’s 1st District in Congress. “They’ve been with me through a number of elections, a number of these announcements, unfortunately,” he said.

Snowe, who largely sat out the race although Summers served as her state director for nine years, issued a congratulatory statement to King just after 9 p.m., well before Summers had conceded.

“I have known Angus for many years and worked closely with him on issues critical to Maine during his two terms as governor,” she said. “I know he cares deeply about Maine people and the future of our nation.

“We had a very good conversation — I offered anything I could do to assist him with a smooth transition, and we will be meeting toward that end in the near future.”

Sen. Susan Collins, who will be Maine’s senior senator, also congratulated King, saying, “I’m sure that Angus and I will be meeting soon to discuss committee assignments and how we can work together to meet the challenges facing our state and our nation.”

It was an election contest that, at the start of the year, political observers didn’t think would happen and that the national Republican Party didn’t think it would have to worry about losing.